Touring Career Workshop Rebrands To Eccho Live

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Touring Career Workshop (TCW) has transformed into ECCHO Live, an acronym representing Education, Community, Connection, Health and Opportunity, reflecting the powerful impact of mentorship within the live event industry. For over ten years, the nonprofit has been dedicated to supporting live event professionals at every stage of their careers by offering resources and guidance for both career and personal challenges.

ECCHO Live’s mission remains focused on empowering current professionals, mentoring future talent and encouraging collaboration and stewardship. This rebrand follows a comprehensive year-long process, including research, industry interviews, workshops and member feedback. The rebrand highlights the organization’s continued commitment to providing live event professionals with vital resources, mental health support and career tools, at no charge.

“With our industry’s evolving demands, TCW’s identity needed to adapt,” says ECCHO Live Founder and Executive Director Chris Lisle. “Collaborating with our board, partners, and staff, we developed a name and brand that reflects our current resources and future vision. ECCHO Live supports every aspect of a live event professional’s career.”

ECCHO Live’s outreach includes several key initiatives, such as the All Access Program, which offers four free, confidential counseling sessions with approved therapists to professionals, their spouses or partners and dependents. In 2023, All Access on Site (AAOS) expanded its mental health services to festivals, fairs and large music events, allowing artists, crews and staff to schedule on-site sessions with therapists. AAOS plans to increase its reach from three festivals in 2023 and nine in 2024 to 18 events this year. Additionally, the flagship Touring Career Workshop will return later this year as the ECCHO Live Fall Workshop.

Day Off events take place on the second Monday of every month, offering a relaxed, semi-active setting for industry professionals to connect while enjoying activities such as karaoke, TopGolf, trivia or a chili cookoff. Networking Nights are also held regularly, focused exclusively on fostering industry connections.

Since its inception, over 5,000 individuals have attended the Touring Career Workshop’s annual event, gaining valuable insights from industry leaders on topics such as financial well-being, work-life balance, business planning, resume updates, security concerns and networking.

“Our mission has always been to empower live event professionals,” adds ECCHO Live General Manager Kara Kemp. “The rebrand will strengthen this mission with continuous year-round programming to support our industry.”

ECCHO Live is entirely supported, sponsored and funded by industry professionals. Recently, the organization received a $100,000 donation from the Country Music Association (CMA), as part of the CMA’s commitment to supporting mental health organizations within the music industry.

Dylan Marlowe & Conner Smith Team For New ‘Did We Just Become Best Friends? Tour’

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Dylan Marlowe and Conner Smith are teaming up for a new co-headlining tour, the “Did We Just Become Best Friends? Tour” this spring.

Featuring openers Hannah McFarland and Cole Goodwin, the tour will kick off on April 2 in Columbia, South Carolina and includes stops in Orlando, Tampa, Chattanooga and more through April 12. General on-sale starts on Feb. 7, and fans can purchase tickets here.

Marlowe has dropped a series of self-penned singles and EPs like “Record High” and Dirt Road When I Die, eventually racking up 328 million global career streams as an artist, while co-penning Jon Pardi’s No. 1 hit, “Last Night Lonely.” Most recently, he released his debut album, Mid-Twenties Crisis. Marlowe has also toured with Dan + Shay, Cole Swindell, Hardy, Brantley Gilbert and more.

Smith’s 2024 album Smoky Mountains, pairing sharp hooks and timeless country sonics with a sincere nod to his love for Appalachia featured the Gold-certified, multi-week international chart-topper “Creek Will Rise.” He also released the all-acoustic Smoky Mountains Sessions and fast-paced “Steal My Thunder” (feat. Tucker Wetmore) which was featured in the summer blockbuster Twisters. His latest project The Storyteller is out now.

“Did We Just Become Best Friends? Tour” Dates:
April 2 – Columbia, SC – The Senate
April 3 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues
April 4 – Tampa, FL – Dallas Bull
April 10 – Chattanooga, TN – The Signal
April 11 – Isle of Palms, SC – The Windjammer
April 12 – Wilmington, NC – Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre

Jelly Roll’s Goodnight Nashville To Host Grand Opening

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Goodnight Nashville building exterior. Photo: Andrew Keithly Photography

Jelly Roll’s new venue Goodnight Nashville located on Broadway in downtown Nashville will host a Grand Opening Celebration on Feb. 20.

First floor stage. Photo: Samantha Kunz

The new four-story venue was created in partnership with Arizona-based Evening Entertainment Group and offers a full dining experience, tattoo parlor pop-up and lively nightlife inspired by Jelly Roll’s raw, authentic spirit. The vibrant first floor features a full bar, diverse menu and live music—all under the glow of a massive skull chandelier, drum-head lights and a “Save Me/I’m Fine” art installation.

The second floor pays tribute to Jelly Roll’s wife, Bunnie Xo of the Dumb Blonde podcast, with a larger-than life likeness of her above the bar. Bunnie’s immerses guests in a sultry world, featuring a stage for live DJs and plush booths perfect for nightlife and VIP table reservations.

The third floor offers a more intimate, elevated experience with Buddy’s, a cocktail lounge named in honor of Jelly Roll’s late father. This upscale, speakeasy-style venue serves craft cocktails and a limited, thoughtfully curated food menu in a cozy setting. Reserved mainly for private events and for Jelly Roll’s personal use. Buddy’s will occasionally open its doors to the public for a more exclusive night out. Finally, the top floor is an indoor-outdoor rooftop, offering sweeping views, comfortable booths, space for a DJ, bar fare, and another signature rotating skull chandelier.

Photo: Samantha Kunz

“As we set out to create EEG’s first venue in Nashville, we knew there was no better person to partner with than a true hometown hero like Jelly Roll,” says Les Corieri, co-owner of Evening Entertainment Group. “Goodnight Nashville is more than just a place to grab a drink—it’s an experience where music, culture, and hospitality meet. Nashville has always been a vibrant city of energy and creativity, and we’re excited to be part of that spirit, bringing something new to the scene.”

Drew Baldridge Launches ‘The Tough People Fund’

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Pictured: Drew Baldridge & Baker; Photo: Mike Rodway

Drew Baldridge has launched “The Tough People Fund,” a GoFundMe campaign that will aid individuals, families and communities experiencing the toughest of times.

The campaign launched yesterday (Feb. 4), directing efforts towards raising funds for a young fan, Baker, who is bravely battling cancer. Baldridge was moved when he learned that Baker found strength in his song “Tough People” as she underwent her treatments. Inspired by her resilience, he decided to take action and use his platform to support Baker and raise awareness for her fight.

“Baker’s diagnosis is heart-wrenching. Only 15-20% of pediatric leukemia cases are T-cell, and within that group, just 11-12% have the ETP markers, which make her case even rarer and harder to treat. This cancer is aggressive and complex, and the odds are stacked against her,” explains Baldridge. “But here’s the truth: Baker is not a statistic. She is a fighter. A warrior with an unstoppable spirit and the unwavering support of her family, friends, and community. Right now, Baker is undergoing Phase 2 chemotherapy, which is even more intense than the treatments she’s already been through. The road ahead is long, but we believe in her strength—and we know that together, we can help her win this fight.”

The fundraiser is live now here and, putting his money where his mouth is, he kicked off the campaign on World Cancer Day with a $1,000 donation of his own.

“Tough People,” co-written by Baldridge, Luke Combs, Adam Sanders, and Jordan Walker, is already making a significant impact at radio, currently climbing the charts and nearing the Top 15.

Allie Colleen Celebrates Season Of Growth On New EP ‘Sincerely, Rolling Stone’

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Photo: Moments By Moser Photography

Allie Colleen is kicking off the new year with her new five track EP, Sincerely, Rolling Stone, set for release February 21.

The reflective, deeply personal project includes tracks co-written by Colleen with Stephen Hunley, Eric Dodd, Megan Barker and more. A limited edition vinyl of the album is available for pre-sale now.

“I wanted to return to my roots of creating—creating something that reflects how I feel,” explains Colleen. “In the world of commercial music, everyone wants something they can relate to, something that feels like it was written specifically for them. Growing up, I didn’t have the luxury of relating to the people around me. I felt very isolated in my world, shaped by my childhood experiences. This year, I’ve experienced heartbreak in a way I never have before. I’ve faced loss and isolation so profound that I don’t know how to make you relate to it. These songs, however, are for me. I don’t know if anyone on this planet will connect with them, but they saved my life in one way or another and played a pivotal role in my recent season of growth.”

Sincerely, Rolling Stone Track List:
1. “Rolling Stone” (Allie Colleen, Stephen Hunley, Eric Dodd, Connor Sweet)
2. “Grass On The Grave” (Alyssa Trahan, Krystal Polychronis, Craig Wilson, Allie Colleen)
3. “Oklahoma Mountains” (Allie Colleen, Matt Wynn, John Kraft)
4. “Household Name” (Allie Colleen, Eric Dodd, Stephen Hunley)
5. “Nicotine” (Allie Colleen, Megan Barker, Lockwood Bar)

Mike Curb Donates Funding For New Student Recording Facility At UCLA

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Mike Curb

Mike Curb, former Lieutenant Governor and acting Governor of California, as well as a music industry veteran, has funded the construction of a new student recording facility at UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music, which will begin in 2025. This contribution continues the long-standing philanthropic partnership between the Mike Curb Foundation and the School of Music, which has spanned over ten years. The facility will be housed in the Evelyn and Mo Ostin Music Center.

“I am very pleased to extend my commitment to create a creative lab space that will serve as a training ground for young music professionals to hone their skills and master their craft at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music,” shares Curb. “We are proud to be joining our support with philanthropists and music industry pioneers Herb Alpert, Mo Ostin and Berry Gordy.”

The Mike Curb Foundation made its inaugural donation to the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music in 2012, supporting the establishment of a computer music lab in the Ostin Music Center. This latest gift will fund a full renovation of that space, transforming it into the Mike Curb Student Recording Facility, which will include two new mixing/editing rooms and faculty studios.

“Mike Curb has a passion for educational philanthropy,” says Eileen Stempel, Dean of The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. “We are thrilled that he has provided our students with professional-level facilities to foster their development. This will be a significant enhancement for our music industry program.”

Since becoming an independent school in 2016, the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music has been recognized as one of the top music business schools by Billboard. In 2023, the school launched its own independent music industry program, taught by a faculty of academic researchers and industry professionals. The program leverages the school’s extensive resources, including two large theaters, one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of musical instruments, and the UCLA Music Library, the largest in southern California. In conjunction with the newly established Berry Gordy Music Industry Center, the program supports course development and provides students with internships and professional opportunities in the industry.

“Music industry students require professional level facilities to apprentice in, while also having their own creative space to experiment and explore their musical ideas,” adds Robert Fink, Special Academic Senior Associate Sean and Chair of the music industry program. “We are excited to be opening the Mike Curb Student Recording Facility, so we can provide our students even more opportunities to develop these industry critical skills.”

The Mike Curb Foundation’s donation aligns with its long-standing mission of supporting education and culture. Since its founding more than 20 years ago, the foundation has contributed over $200 million in grants to advance education, the arts, cultural preservation, homelessness relief and various community initiatives. Its charitable efforts reflects Curb’s commitment to giving back to the community and inspiring others to do the same.

Shaboozey Breaks Record For Most Weeks At No. 1 On Radio Songs Chart

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Shaboozey. Photo: Daniel Prakopcyk

Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” extends its reign to a 27th week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Radio Songs chart, surpassing The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” to claim the record for the longest time spent at No. 1 in the chart’s history.

“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” previously spent a record-tying 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, which factors in streaming, airplay and sales, starting in July of last year.

The track remains at No. 1 on the Radio Songs chart with an audience of 63.3 million for the week of Jan. 24-30, remaining mostly steady from the previous week, according to data from Luminate. The chart tracks all-format airplay across over 1,000 monitored radio stations. KDHT (Hits 95.7) in Denver has played the song the most, with over 4,000 spins to date.

“A Bar Song (Tipsy),” released via American Dogwood/EMPIRE with country radio promotion by Magnolia Music, topped the Country Airplay chart for seven consecutive weeks starting last August, marking the longest No. 1 streak for a debut single. It also continues to make history, remaining in the top 10 for a record-extending 31st week.

The song also made history as the first to break into the top five on Country Airplay, Pop Airplay and Adult Pop Airplay, where it spent two weeks at No. 1 on each chart, as well as Rhythmic Airplay, where it peaked at No. 3.

“There were many, many doubters of our ability to work this record at radio,” EMPIRE COO Nima Etminan shared to Billboard. “The industry loves telling independents that there’s a ceiling to what they can do on their own, and this was no different. We were told it can’t be done, and, as we like to do, we proved them wrong. We’ve assembled a fantastic team that we had full faith in – and they delivered.”

Weekly Register: Kane Brown Debuts At No. 2 On Country Albums Chart

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Kane Brown

Morgan Wallen stays at the top of the country albums and streaming songs charts this week, according to Luminate data. His 2023 One Thing At A Time album amassed 41K in total consumption (774 album only and 52 million song streams). Wallen’s newest track “Smile,” remains atop the songs chart with 13 million streams adding to 80 million total.

Also on the albums chart, Kane Brown debuts at No. 2 with The High Road earning 40k in total consumption, Wallen at No. 3 with Dangerous: The Double Album with 31K in total consumption, Post Malone‘s F-1 Trillion with 25K and Jelly Roll‘s Beautifully Broken with 19K.

On the songs chart, Shaboozey maintains the No. 2 position with “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” earning 12.5 million streams adding to one billion, Wallen’s “Love Somebody” climbs to No. 3 with 11 million, Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help” drops to No. 4 with 11 million streams, and Sam Barber and Avery Anna‘s “Indigo” claims 8.6 million.

Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum Names New Troubadour Advisory Council Members, Leadership Team

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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Troubadour Advisory Council, comprised of a team of dedicated young leaders in the Nashville community, has named its 2025 members and leadership team.

The 2025 Leadership Team:
Elizabeth Lombardi, Chair (Executive, Business Affairs, Music Touring, Creative Artists Agency)
Zach Farnum, Vice-Chair (Owner, 117 Entertainment)
Nina Jenkins Fisher, Vice-Chair (Senior Director, Creative, Jody Williams Songs)
Brenden Oliver, Vice-Chair (Director of Awards Stewardship, Country Music Association)

The Troubadour Advisory Council’s 2025 members:
Scott Adkins (President/CEO, Adkins Publicity)
Karli Berman (Teacher, Metro Nashville Public Schools)
Christopher Beverly (Senior Business & Entertainment Attorney, Shields Construction Law, PLLC)
Kasey Cleckler (Owner, Executive + Performance Coach, Cape + Anchor)
Katie Cline Moore (Business Manager, Cline Co Business & Financial Management)
Emily Dryburgh (A+R, Creative Director: Raven Entertainment and Co-Founder: Young Music City + RNBW Queer Music Collective)
Taylor Edwards (Associate Portfolio Manager, AllianceBernstein)
Alex Hall (Recording Artist, Monument Records)
Brittney Hitch (Contract & Booking Manager, Bridgestone Arena)
Cody Kirby (Associate Counsel, Parallon – An HCA Affiliate)
Nathan Pyle (Director of Operations, Songfluencer)
Carter Robinson (SVP Financial Advisor, Music Entertainment & Sports Group, Pinnacle Financial Partners)
Molly Shehan (Partner, Milom Crow Kelley Beckett Shehan PLC)
Casey Thomas (VP, Marketing & Commercial Partnerships, Monument Records)
Josh Tomlinson (Director – Creative, BMI)
Max Vanberg (Country Music Agent Trainee, William Morris Endeavor – WME)

The Troubadour community of young members enjoy quarterly networking events at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. They connect with other like-minded professionals, ages 21-45, and play a part in supporting the museum’s educational mission. Troubadour membership directly supports the museum’s next generation of local visitors, providing free general admission to youth ages 18 and under from Davidson County and bordering counties.

Save The Music Becomes Independent & Unveils $10 Million Endowment Fund

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Save The Music, formerly VH1 Save the Music, the nationwide nonprofit supporting music education in over 285 school districts, has launched a new chapter after separating from Paramount Global and becoming a fully independent entity.

Save The Music will continue to focus on its mission of ensuring every student in every school has the opportunity to make music, by supplying schools with instruments and technology, offering teacher training and support, and funding and bringing together community-based music organizations.

As part of the transition, Save The Music has introduced a $10 million endowment fund, with nearly $4 million already raised. This endowment will secure the organization’s long-term sustainability and continued support for music education, helping future generations of students access the transformative power of making music. Although the formal partnership with Paramount is concluding, the relationship will persist, as the company has committed an initial six-figure donation to the fund.

This milestone signifies the completion of a process that started in 2019 when the organization rebranded, dropping the VH1 name as part of a strategy to lessen reliance on a single funding source and adopt a more diversified approach to financial support. Over the past five years, Save The Music has attracted a diverse group of funders, with 95% of the budget in 2024 coming from community-based foundations, individual donations, and contributions from the music industry.

Notable funders include major labels, talent agencies, Live Nation, AEG Presents, Amazon, TikTok and Meta. In 2021, Save The Music was awarded a $2 million grant, the largest in the organization’s history, from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.

“Going independent is a huge step forward for us – and the culmination of a five-year effort from our team, partners, and boards,” says Executive Director Henry Donahue. “In every school I visit – from the Bronx to Miami, Philadelphia to Los Angeles, Detroit to Columbus, Memphis to New Orleans – I find that the music room is a special place. The students are excited to be there, and they are creative, thoughtful, and optimistic in a way that should give us all hope for the future.”

Save The Music has also bolstered its artist partnerships, guided by internal leadership and the Save The Music Advisory Board. Mmembers of the board include Eric Wong (President of East West Records & Head of Global A&R at Warner Recorded Music), Caroline Abs (Head of Marketing for Sony Latin-Iberia Region), Jonathan Azu (Founder & CEO of Culture Collective), and Gurj Bassi (Head of Music Marketing & Partnerships at SiriusXM), among others.

Recent Artist Ambassador campaigns have been spearheaded by Ed Sheeran, Becky G and Jelly Roll. Save The Music has also partnered with Breland, Brittney Spencer, Young The Giant, Tank (of Tank and The Bangas), Durand Bernarr, Lawrence (the band), Chelsea Cutler, Rainbow Kitten Surprise and Infinity Song.

To celebrate the new chapter, Save The Music has brought together a lineup of artists for an exclusive giveaway campaign on the Propeller platform. Now through the end of February, fans can bid on over a dozen one-of-a-kind auction prizes from artists like Sabrina Carpenter, The War and Treaty, Denzel Curry, GHOST, Common x Pete Rock, Patti LaBelle, Blake Shelton and more. Proceeds from the auction will go directly toward funding the creation of new music programs nationwide, as Save The Music enters its next era as an independent organization. The auction items can be viewed here.

Since its founding, Save The Music has invested over $75 million in more than 2,800 school music programs. In just the last five years it has doubled the number of schools it reaches, funding more than 600 new programs in cities like New York, Newark, Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Nashville and Columbus; along with major regional initiatives in West Virginia and the Mississippi Delta.